Public Comments

Please to not use the facility address for people temporarily incarcerated. Doing so would skew redistricting to increase the populations in those districts, and under-count people in the districts of their permanent address. Jails and prisons are not, with a very few exceptions, permanent addresses. I have read that the average length of stay in a Colorado prison is only 36 months. Also, you should ignore any lobbying for particular maps that come from political organizations. The whole idea of this process is to remove partisan politics from redistricting.

I currently live and built our business in congressional district 7. We choose Golden as our headquarters for our company as we are solidly in the supply chain between aerospace and their prime vendors. Proximity is important given the nature of the industry. Currently we provide services directly to Lockheed Martin, Ball Aerospace and many of their circuit board and plating vendors in the area. We also have an endless amount of potential talent coming from the school of mines near by to support these pursuits. We are also a provider products to NREL that does extensive work with NASA and Lockheed. I believe given that this industry is vital for Colorado, maintaining their presence in the same congressional district is vital. Colorado is the 2nd largest aerospace economy in the country and the future is very bright in that vertical. Any potential of disrupting the flow of funding or advocacy is far to dangerous to even consider splitting this entities into different congressional districts. On another note, we have chosen to raise our family in Arvada next door. Issues like secondary education, workforce housing and infrastructure in the district greatly impact these industries and the quality of life here in Colorado. Advocacy on these issues is equally important to maintain these large aerospace companies. Thank you for your time and attention. Liz Geisleman

Commissioners – Statement of Common Interest for South-Central Colorado concerning economic and political platforms By splitting El Paso County at the proposed US Highway 24 West, Piles Peak Avenue, and Colorado Highway 94 east border this would create a true economic and metropolitan zone in South-Central Colorado. By including ½ of El Paso County approx. 375,000 population, all of Pueblo County, nearly 200,000 population, and Fremont County, approx. 60,000 people would create the emphasis of a Southern Metro Area in Colorado, and with enough population in the remaining counties outlined in our proposal would legally allow this area, with common interest to form our own Congressional District. By creating this ‘Southern Metro District’ would allow the entire South-Central Colorado Congressional District to enjoy greater economic growth through the district because economies feed of the close and strongest economic systems and with the vital southern I-25 corridor will strengthen the economies of both Huerfano and Las Animas Counties immediately. With Fremont County as part of the Southern Metro area this will entice more cooperation and economic growth in the Upper Arkansas River Valley and which includes (in this proposal) the cites of Salida, Buena Vista, and Leadville. Also, with this upper portion benefiting the benefits will trickle into the San Luis Valley also. The San Luis Valley is already a strong economic force within itself and will only benefit from the strength of a South-Central Colorado Congressional District and present a different political voice to the overall representation of the district. Instead of having on strong political reference in which to choose representation the South-Central Colorado Congressional District will be able to provide three to four stronger platforms to select our representation from, and that is a goal of your commission. Also, the benefit to El Paso County would have two congressional voices from this sprawling area and by splitting north from south, the northern area of El Paso County will be able to form a Congressional District with Douglas County allowing that portion of El Paso County to become a strong voice in Denver metro issues and perhaps have a stronger voice with the Colorado Congressional delegation. If you accept this proposal this will be a win-win situation for ALL of Colorado Thomas McKenna – Citizens of True Southern Colorado

In South-Central Colorado, the Hispanic population makes up approximately 40% of the total population. Hispanic culture can be traced back over several thousands of years in South-Central Colorado and Indigenous cultures can be traced back to shortly after man can across the Bering bridge. The east side Wet Mountains (currently Fremont, Pueblo, and Huerfano counties) s became a throughfare for people traveling in the Americans from the north to the south, the heritage still exists in South-Central Colorado, and this is a true Common interest. We must be represented in Congress with someone who has our interests at heart. By creating a Congressional District that encompasses South-Central Colorado can only bring proper representation to True Southern Colorado. Thomas McKenna – Citizens of True Southern Colorado

This is South-Central Colorado Areas of Common Interest Statement. Please see the Spreadsheet that supports the issues addressed in this document County Population White Hispanic Black Asians, Pacfic Islander and other Others Note: Hispanic data used was combination of mixed ethnicity and result in higher that 100% totals Pueblo 180,000 79.5 37.90% 1.90% 1.79% El Paso * half 375,000 69.10% 248,898 17.00% 61,200 6.40% 2,304 3.00% 1,080 0.80% Crowley 5,718 82.84% 22.54% 1.81% Ortero 18,282 79% 37.92 1.43% Las Animas 14,266 82.63 41.45% 2.54% Custer 4,776 96.00% 4.00% Fremont 47,321 89.50% 10.35% 1.22% Chaffee 19,557 90.94% 8.58% 1.58% Lake 7,751 77.60% 36.14% 1.69% Saguache 6,295 71.29% 45.26% 1.45% Rio Grande 11,305 74.00% 42.00% 2.00% Alamosa 16,107 71.19% 41.41% 2.34% Conejos 8,128 44.00% 56.00% Costillia 3,745 59.00% 67.59% Huerfano 6,679 80.96% 35.41% Total South-Central 724,930 Below For Statistical Data Only Other relevant Data Total Population by Region Baca 3,561 San Luis Valley 45570 Prowers 12,022 Upper Arkansas Valley Counties 74629 Bent 5,785 Lower Arkansas River Valley Counties 24000 Alt Pop 21,368 Pueblo and El Paso Counties Cities 550000 If include Extreme SE Colorado counties 746,298 Energry Rich Counties 25721 Sincerely Thomas McKenna Citizens of True Southern Colorado

Colorado Independent Congressional Redistricting Commissioners: Now that the Colorado Supreme Court authorizes your commission with the task of remapping Colorado Congressional District and a timeline for accomplishing this task has been set, we Citizens of True Southern Colorado, wish your commission the absolute best in compiling this work and would like to once again ask you to keep these facts in mind. It is imperative for the economic, cultural, and geographic integrity of South-Central Colorado that a separate Congressional District be formed. As described previously this district would utilize ½ of El Paso County from a bounty formed at US Highway 24, Piles Peak Ave in Colorado Springs, and Colorado Highway 94 in eastern El Paso County. The district would include Pueblo, Crowley, Otero, Huerfano, Las Animas, Custer, Fremont, Chaffee, and Lake counties, along with the area designated as the San Luis Valley up to the eastern edge of the Continental Divide. By encompassing this area will create adhering to at least the legal minimum number of residents required to form a Congressional District (722,000), Creating a Congressional District that would present a high number of concerned interest including a large Hispanic population of whose particular culture dates back into this area over thousands of years, The District would all include a combination of natural and federal resources that would be a concern for the representation Congressional management; including The Great Sand Dunes, Comanche national Grassland, Arkansas and Rio Grande Rivers and a large area of BLM land to also be scrutinized congressionally. The inclusion of these area under one district is essential for both South-Central Colorado and the entire state itself. Colorado Springs has claimed to be Southern Colorado, yet wants to be a part of the Metro complex to its north(Denver Metro) , this is an excellent opportunity to allow it to have both. By separating the Congressional District at the suggest boundary it will form a Southern Colorado Metro Complex which will include the southern portion of El Paso County (mostly South Colorado Springs), Pueblo, and Cañon City with will strengthen this area economic base and allow South-Central Colorado to function on its own entity. It is imperative that we as a people can conduct our Congressional Business as ourselves and not part of the Western Slope or as a pawn of a Denver Metro controlled leadership. We are not part of Eastern Colorado either, however for population and geographical purposes, we could include Baca, Prowers, and Bent Counties into our geographical area. Please note that the area north the Highway 24, Pikes Peak Ave, Highway 94 boundary would allow Northern El Paso County to still have around 400,000 resident’s and combined with Teller and Douglas Counties could nicely form the 5th Congressional District. PLEASE GIVE THIS PURPOSAL STONG CONSIDERATION, Thank You Thomas McKenna – Citizens of True Southern Colorado

I live in Arvada and work in Wheat Ridge. I see these two towns as one community in many ways. They are now both a part of the same congressional district. My request and hope is that they will remain together when our new congressional district boundaries are redrawn.

Dear Commissioners, Thank you for your service to Colorado. My name is Thomas R Kiel. I live in Sterling Colorado Please draw a congressional district for eastern Colorado that keeps us from having our voices and interests overridden by inclusion with the suburban cities along the front range. I know that the congressional districts must include 720,000 people. You can easily draw a district that is oriented toward agriculture by including all the eastern plains in one district with Pueblo (state fair) and Weld County ( the number 1 ag producing county). Agriculture and rural communities are unique and represent a community of interest that should be kept together. Thomas R Kiel Better Electric Inc

I believe that all districts should be redrawn fairly and evenly to ensure people in Colorado participate in the Democratic systems we have put in place. Because if we don't and do become a 1-Party State Colorado may end up like California with many people fleeing for better states like Texas, Arizona, and Nevada (sometimes Colorado) I want what is best for the state and for the people of it and to redistrict not based on politics but rather on communities. Because if we put 2 communities in one State Legislative district we could see a polarization of ideas and people might not want to hear others opinions to listen and understand but, rather crush their opponent with "facts and logic" I can see this happening to both the Left and Right and I don't want our communities to be torn apart over a state legislature seat. And I would like to point out the possibility of Larimer and Boulder counties in State Legislature seats being in some parts combined. With Larimer being more Conservative and Boulder a bit more Liberal I don't want to see people who could have a decent relationship never want to see one another because of a State or US Legislative office. So, let's avoid the controversy and make sure we don't look at political maps but maps of the communities and the people, not the Ideology because with the Democrat lead government if they were to unfairly treat Republicans in these redistricting then if later Republicans took over government during redistricting time we could see a 'revenge' and have Democrats being gerrymandered. I hope you consider my letter or whatever it is to help the state stay in a peaceful state.

Congratulations on the ruling from the Colorado Supreme Court . I have watched the Congressional Commission with a great deal of interest and I like the way you conduct yourselves regarding the committees work. Today the court has spoken and the peoples voice will be heard. Isn't democracy great when it works. Thank all of you for your hard work Thomas McKenna - Pueblo